-=Moira’s Arrival=-

It wasn’t long before the darkness of night settled on Victoria Island. The single shining star that provided day gave way to a large collection of stars much farther away, all providing only minor glimmers in the blackness of the sky. The mountainous region of Perion, normally known for being warm and dry, instantly became significantly cooler without the sun above it. Many of the creatures scuttled into shelter for the night, though a few others were coming out for a nightly prowl.

The coming night couldn’t have come any sooner for one such group of people. Shadow Viper and his company finally reached the village of Perion as the last rays of the sun sank beneath the horizon. Visibly tired from the travel, the group, despite wishing to meet Dances With Balrogs, knew the quest wouldn’t be worth continuing without some much needed rest. Following Lance’s lead, they all made their way to the town’s inn.

Time passed slowly as everyone took it easy getting ready for rest. Within moments, Lance, Skye, Amber, Emma, and Genya were all asleep on their cots. Shadow, however, simply sat on his bed, looking out into the night sky. Reflections poured through his mind as he thought about everything that happened so far. He even remembered the day he left his home, and how far away he really was.

*I’ve been on this island only two days so far, yet much has happened recently,* his mind recalled quietly. *I received training from a great warrior, made many new friends, discovered my first glimpse at a possible enemy, and have traversed much of the island, gaining knowledge of four major towns in the process. I know I’ve only scratched the surface, but at least I know I’ve gotten my first foothold on the darkness that lingers here, and perhaps it won’t be too long before I discover the true source.* He brushed a lone tear from his eye. *Ryu…Yuka…everyone who lived in the village…please, rest as easy as you can….I promise, you will all be avenged one day.*

-Woobledywop!-

While one group settled in for the night, another was still out and about.

The pair of Damien Hawthorne and the Crow continued traveling through the night, hardly an ounce of fatigue on either of them. They seldom talked about anything as they walked, though a small feeling both had that told them they could trust each other stayed within their minds.

Eventually, they passed through the L Forest with ease; many of the creatures were gone from sight, hidden within the trees and bushes of the wild for their slumber. Now at the Kerning end of a triple branch junction, they took a moment to wonder where to go. Finally, Crow spoke up. “I am a bit tired of walking so much,” the assassin said. “With everything that went on today keeping me on my feet, I wouldn’t mind simply finding a place to pull up a chair.”

“That makes two of us,” Damien replied. “We just came from Kerning, and the only other place I can think of is the harbor. Does that sound okay?”

“There’s another town called Henesys we can get to from here, so you know, but at this rate, it makes no difference to me.”

“To Lith Harbor then.” Without another word, the duo set off for the coastal town of Victoria. They set their pace to a run to get there quickly.

Five minutes passed before Damien and the Crow made it to their destination via a short jaunt around a beach neighboring Lith. Except for the calm waves by the docks, the town itself was mostly silent; sparse dockworkers seemed to make up the only sign of life in the sleeping harbor town. The pair looked around the town for a moment.

“I bet everything’s closed by now,” the Crow scoffed. “Wanna go sit by the docks?” Damien merely nodded in reply before they proceeded. As they approached the docks, Damien stopped a moment to scan the waters by the town.

“A ship is coming here,” he said as he gazed outward. “I bet I know what it is. It’s the ship from Maple Island. I should know; I was on it once long ago. I can barely remember when I rode on it.”

“Indeed,” the Crow added. “I rode it once as well, back when I first got into adventuring. I can’t really remember it at all…” she trailed off, smiling briefly as the vessel bordered the docks.

A minute passed as the dockworkers secured the ship to the shore with rope from the ship deck to a pole on a dock. Afterwards, they waved an ok to the ship. A loadind ramp descended from the boat to solid ground. In moments, a pack of new adventurers began pouring out. Most of them appeared rather tired and ready to settle in for the night, while a few appeared awake and alert. One of these few led the throng of newcomers, a young girl that appeared to be the age of seventeen. Dressed in a black ensemble and adorned with blond hair, one open blue eye, and an eyepatch covering the other, she headed into the main town with no emotion on her face. She glanced briefly at Damien and the Crow before moving on.

“I wonder who that is,” Damien wondered as he eyed the girl. “She looks distinctly different from the others.” At this, he observed the rest of the new adventurers behind her, all of them wearing various colored shorts and shoes, as well as t-shirts, some white, others gray.

“Yes, especially her weapon,” the Crow noted. While the other newcomers wielded swords, axes, and clubs, the woman had a rather regal-looking crossbow slung across her back. The ranged weapon seemed to shimmer in the moonlight.

“Welcome, new adventurers!” a sudden, low and jolly voice rang out. The pair looked over to see a large man dressed in green attire with a viking helmet approach the group. “I am Olaf, and I’m here to assist you in choosing a job here on Victoria Island if you so wish help from me.”

The Crow stiffened as she heard the voice. “Dangit, almost forgot about him,” she muttered under her breath. “The Shapeshifter.” She then tugged at Damien’s arm for his attention. “Listen, if you don’t mind,” she suggested, “let’s see if one of the shops or maybe an inn is still open. There must be someplace we can rest in, especially if Lith is taking in arrivals from Maple Island at this time of night.” True as this was to her, the Crow also wanted to get out of Olaf’s sight, as she knew that there was more to this Olaf than met the eye, and being seen by him could be very unpleasant for her.

“Very well, then,” Damien said as they began to walk. A sudden shout quickly halted them. “Excuse me!” The pair looked over to see the large man standing in front of the blond girl.

The Crow’s eyes widened. *Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me!* her mind cried out. *She…that girl is….she can’t be!*

Olaf looked the girl over a moment, soon noticing the eyepatch over her eye. “I’m sorry, ma’am, but that eyepatch is certainly going to be a great hinderance to your adventuring career. I’m afraid you aren’t allowed to continue on. Please, head back to the boat so you can return to the island.”

The Crow facepalmed, realizing what was going on. *I can’t believe it,* she thought. *It looks like they found another one. Perhaps she is one of the chosen. This is the second one I’ve heard of. I wonder when the other two will arrive.*

Damien, on the other hand, looked on with concern. This sudden move didn’t make sense to him. “A great hinderance? Are you kidding?” he called out. “She seems okay to me. I doubt that eyepatch will have that much of a-“

“Be quiet back there!” Olaf yelled out without turning around. “Now, like I said, ma’am, please return to the ship.”

The blond girl didn’t listen. Instead, she glared at the man. “Actually, whoever said I’m okay is correct,” she countered. I’ve actually fought with this eyepatch on for a long time. I doubt I’ll be hindered.” She then began walking past Olaf.

Unfortunately, the large man was in her way again. “Did you not hear what I just said?” he growled, obvious anger covering his features. “You are in no condition to fight at all, young lady! Now, please return to the ship! NOW!”

Instantly agitated, the girl in black disobeyed again, pushing Olaf out of her way. “I am in perfect condition to fight. I know what you’re thinking; I have managed to overcome a lack of depth perception to keep fighting at range. Now, if you don’t MIND, I’ll be on my way.”

Olaf, now angrier than before, yanked her back by her arm. “ALRIGHT, LISTEN HERE!” he shouted. “I’ve already had this attitude twice before! First, it was from a girl who wanted to be a magician, but had an automail leg, which would’ve clearly slowed her movements and made her less mobile in case of combat! Next was a guy with one arm! ONE ARM!”

At this, the Crow gasped. *Okay, I remember the girl with the metal leg,* she thought quickly, *but the one-armed guy….the only one I remember is…*

Sudden movements broke her concentration. The blond forcibly took her arm back from Olaf. Then, with suprising strength, she grabbed him by the shoulders. “Anyone can use most weapons, usually melee, with one arm. Automail, I’ve heard of, is a special metal used in artificial limbs, and does NOT slow anyone down in any way. Now I suggest you keep your mouth shut and leave me alone!”

Damien stepped forward. “That’s right! Leave her be! It takes more than minor handicaps to seat people from adventuring! In fact, I have one as well!” He pointed to the metallic mask on his face. The Crow gasped in suprise at this.

Olaf turned to Damien. “I SAID be qui-” he began, then stopped suddenly, eyeing the mask. “You…you can’t fight either!” he cried out in desparation. “I don’t know how you got here, but that mask is clearly a hinderance! How do you breathe properly with that faceplate?!” His eyes then suddenly caught sight of the Crow. “Crow…oh, thank goodness! The masters have been looking for you! I see you apprehended this man! Quick, hand him over to me! The masters will forgive you for your absence for this!”

Damien looked to the Crow suddenly. “This man…is he a part of your group?” he asked.

The Crow faltered in her response. “Y…yes…” she said softly, remembering those she worked for. This was a first for her; normally, she was punished heavily for disobeying her superiors, but to be offered forgiveness? The maroon assassin thought about this. If this was true, she could have a home again, with those she lived with…those she had to live with…those who….

=”Earlier today, something terrible happened. Something so horrible….now I no longer care what happens to me. I’m NOT going back to them.”=

Her face instantly hardened. “No,” she said firmly. “I will not.”

Olaf was aghast. “WHAT?!” he cried out. “You don’t understand! The masters will have your head for this!”

“They can have my head when they EARN it. As far as they’re concerned, I QUIT!”

At this, Olaf flew into a frenzy. “AGH! ENOUGH OF THIS DISOBEDIENCE!” he shouted out in anger. “You handicaps have defied me for the LAST time! Now, you DIE!” Immediately, he held up a ring worn on his right hand. “The rest of the newcomers! Kill these dissenters!” As if suddenly pulled into a trance, the rest of the adventurers slowly advanced on Damien, the Crow, and the blond girl, weapons held on the offensive. Then, Olaf charged on the Crow. “I’ll take care of you first, and make sure the mas-OOF!”

His words were cut by a swift kick from Damien, which landed in his gut. Olaf doubled over in pain.

“Quick, now’s our chance!” the warrior yelled out. “Crow! You, in the black dress! C’mon, let’s get away from the others!” The two girls nodded and began running with him. As they closed on the entrance to town, however, the Crow soon had a change of heart.

*Oh, for the love of-ENOUGH of this!* Crow’s mind screamed. *It’s time these people saw who this man really is!* She stopped suddenly, and the others followed suit. “You, with the crossbow,” she said to the blond girl. “I know this may sound insane, but….shoot that man. Shoot him in the head.”

Damien and the blue-eyed girl looked at Crow in disbelief. “Even for a man as hostile as him, I can’t simply kill him. I’m not a cold-blooded killer of people.”

“Trust me, just do it,” Crow persisted. “Believe me, that man is not the man you think he is.” A loud roar suddenly blasted out. The trio looked over to see Olaf charging toward him, the rest of the adventurers not far behind. Reacting quickly, the assassin quickly pulled out a pair of stars and threw them at the viking-dressed man. One star hit the gem on the ring, shattering it. The other cut his left ear clean off. Olaf howled in pain, clutching the side of his head. The rest of the adventurers abruptly stopped moving and began looking around in confusion, as though they had all woken up from a collective dream. Crow, meanwhile, ran up to Olaf, pulled his hand out of the way, and collected blood from his wound on her hand. She ran back to Damien and the crossbow wielder, showing them the blood.

Damien heaved. “This blood is GREEN!” he cried out in amazement.

“So, he really ISN’T human,” the blond girl said, still in disbelief.

Olaf growled suddenly as he stumbled towards the trio, still in pain from the prior attack. “You…You will PAY for-” his words stopped abruptly. Anger changed to suprise and fear as he felt a crossbow bolt sticking out of his forehead. His eyes stared at his attacker: the new girl dressed in black, holding her crossbow up at him.

“I told you I’m not hindered,” she muttered.

Olaf, in frustration, tried to gather his strength back, barely walking towards the group. Once again, however, his progress was stopped, as Damien made a charge of his own, ramming the large man full-force with his zard straight through his heart. Olaf screamed out in torment as green blood pooled around his feet. He tried one last time to move, but his strength had clearly left him. He fell to his knees. Then, gradually, his body turned a bright white. The outline of his body shrank and remolded into a different form as the blinding white continued glowing from him. As the change continued, Crow announced, “Everyone, meet the shapeshifter, Gilnax Bodythief.”

When the glowing stopped, the group now saw a small, olive-green creature resembling a squid slumped over on the ground, dead, with Damien’s zard still impaled through it. “So that’s what it was,” he said, a look of disgust masking his face.

“Indeed,” the black-dressed girl said in agreement. “Still, that doesn’t explain why he did what he did.

“Then allow me,” Crow interjected. “He is…was part of the group I was once part of. This group is preparing to take over the island one day, but to do so, they need to be rid of four adventurers prophecized to destroy them. He had the ability to see which ones were the four. Oddly enough, these four chosen ones also had a distinct injury on their bodies. From the way he reacted, you and Damien here are two of them.”

“Very…odd,” was all the blond girl could say.

“Yes,” Damien agreed. “Would you happen to know of who the other two are and where they’re at?”

Crow immediately thought of the group of adventurers she had seen at Ellinia, back when the Victorian Oni attacked the townspeople. She described them to the other two. “I’m not for certain where they’d be,” she admitted, “But I get the feeling they probably left Ellinia not long after the Victorian Oni finished his rampage there. Therefore, the best choices would be either Perion or Henesys.”

Damien nodded, reflecting on the information. He, too, had seen the vertical tower of dark energy that made up the Victorian Oni’s arrival, but numerous monsters distracting his progress prevented him from being able to get to Ellinia to help. “Well, I’m not for certain where they would’ve gone, but from your information, there was a warrior among them and an archer as well, so they could’ve gone either way. Well, why don’t we try Henesys first? It’s easier to get to” Crow nodded in response. They began to head onwards, then stopped, looking back at the blond girl. “Would you like to come with us?” Damien offered.

The black-dressed girl thought for a moment, then nodded. “You did help me out back there, so I suppose I can repay you with my assistance. Oh, and you can call me Moira. Nice to meet you.”

—————————————————————–

Finally, an update! Apologies for the lateness, but it’s here! That’s right, Silver, you can stop tapping your foot impatiently now! XD

Like I said, sorry for the lateness, I’ve been getting my CB caught up in levels as of late. Good thing I had this laid out in my head; only took three hours!

Have a Mountain Dew on the house.

Previous Installments:

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